General Education

The GRCC General Education Program is comprised of three broad areas: Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and also includes requirements in English Composition. Courses designated as fulfilling general education requirements must satisfy one of these areas.

Humanities

GRCC defines Humanities as learning or literature concerned with human culture. A branch of study that deals with how people create the world in which they live, and how the world in which they live influences identity. Humanities is the study of the human condition in all its forms, including human interaction, expression, creativity, ideas, and values.

In order for a GRCC course to be designated as Humanities, it must be specifically aligned with at least four of the outcomes listed below.

​Analyze scholarly and creative artifacts and activities from the past and the present in order to understand the world and himself or herself from different points of view.

Utilize the fundamental language and/or set of concepts associated with the scholarly and creative artifacts and activities being analyzed.

Articulate and understand the commonalities and differences among human beings from different time periods, cultures, and demographics through the analysis of scholarly and creative artifacts and activities.

Articulate and understand the ways in which various categories of human scholarship and creativity both shape and reflect cultural values.

Understand the role that various categories of human scholarship and creativity play in inspiring innovation, preserving culture and encouraging empathy for all of humanity.

Social Sciences

GRCC defines Social Sciences as learning and literature concerned with individual and societal relationships. A branch of science that deals with how people manage, interpret, or engage individuals, groups, institutions, societies and cultures. Emphasis is on the factors that influence behaviors, the analysis of societal interaction, and promotion of intellectual curiosity.

In order for a GRCC course to be designated as Social Sciences, it must be specifically aligned with at least four of the outcomes listed below.

​Identify questions and hypotheses important to understanding social phenomena, individual behavior, and/or the operation of societal institutions.

Articulate a theoretical perspective guiding the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data used to investigate individual behavior, social phenomena, and/or the operation of societal institutions.

Comprehend how changing social conditions affect the behavior of individuals, the operation of societal institutions, and/or perception of social phenomena.

Apply social and human behavioral theory to explore their individual rights and responsibilities as part of a civil society.

Use scientific evidence to describe the interplay of genes and the sociocultural context shapes the development of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors within individuals.

Apply social and human behavioral theory to understand alternative interpersonal or cultural perspectives.

Natural Science and Mathematics

GRCC defines Natural Science and Mathematics as learning, literature and experimentation concerned with laws of the natural and physical world. Branches of science and mathematics that deal with how people measure, interpret, explain, define, hypothesize, analyze, research, apply, observe, and study the objects, phenomena, or laws of the natural and physical world.

In order for a GRCC course to be designated as Natural Sciences and Mathematics, it must be specifically aligned with at least four of the outcomes listed below.

Adapt and evaluate processes to find solutions to multi-step or multi-component problems.

Use calculation and measurement to solve problems, and use estimation to evaluate if the outcome to the problem is reasonable.

Discern relevant and irrelevant information when seeking the solutions to problems.

Use experimentation or practice to experience and deepen understanding of scientific and mathematical theories.

Develop hypotheses and draw and express conclusions based on mathematical or scientific theory and/or experimentation.

Apply general science or mathematics principles to explain an observed phenomenon or the results of an experiment.

English Composition and Communications

GRCC defines the English Composition and Communications requirement by embedding a two-course sequence of English Composition and Communications in every academic program. All students must take English Composition 1 (EN 101) and English Composition 2 (EN 102) or Fundamentals of Public Speaking (COM 131) or Interpersonal Communication (COM 135).